Dressed Up
Zula gawped. Beads of sweat stood on her brow.
She had never been so terrified in all her life. She was the crown princess of the Fire Nation, second in line to the throne until her brother sired some brats, a Firebending prodigy, practically a master by her own rights, and unafraid of anything.
But she had never faced such a daunting horror.
"You're going to look sooooo wonderful!" Katara squealed. Tears pricked the corners of her wide blue eyes and she sniffed. "Zula, you've been so good to me… I'm so happy you're going to be my maid of honour." The water girl hugged her tightly, but Zula could not tear her eyes away from the… thing… the Waterbender held. She backed away and smiled weakly, still trembling.
"Not that you had a lot of choice, all things considered. I mean, I'm practically the only other girl around here." Zula coughed uncomfortably.
The Water Tribe girl didn't hear her. "Well, try it on!" Katara shoved the puffy, powder blue bridesmaid dress into Zula's arms.
"Ehm… Katara… it's…" the princess – normally the alpha female of the two girls and used to ordering the water girl around like the peasant she was – looked into her friend's glistening eyes and pursed her lips guiltily. Do it for Katara… it'll be worth seeing Zuko tortured by his own woman. "It's… uhm… interesting."
The Waterbender ushered her behind the changing screen. She removed her clothes and pulled the dress on over her head. She didn't need a mirror to know it looked absolutely hideous, but one awaited her as she stepped out.
Zula summoned every ounce of courage and restraint she had. She breathed, putting herself through numerous calming meditative techniques, and steeled herself to not scream, tear the thing off, burn it, bury the ashes, and salt the ground in which it was interred.
Every ugly bridesmaid dress Zula had ever seen seemed to have had their worst qualities sewn into the body of the powder blue monstrosity clinging to her. It managed to highlight all her worst features without complimenting a single one of her good traits. It had puffy sleeves, lace, glitter, frills, ribbons, and bows, and a white ermine fur collar that was giving her a rash. The only word Zula had for the dress was CRAPTACULAR, and she didn't even know what that meant.
Katara's eyes sparkled. "You. Look. BEAUTIFUL!" She collapsed over her maid of honour, sobbing with joy, hugging her with more sisterly affection than she had ever shown even Sokka. "Oh Zula, you've made me so HAPPY!"
Zula crumpled and wept with her, letting a single, undignified sob bubble past her lips.
Of course, she wasn't crying in happiness or joy.
